Michael Angelo, a multifaceted artist from Toronto, merges fluidity, industrialism, and curation in his latest collection, Pseudo Skin, presented in collaboration with RCHIVE. Known for his versatile creativity, Michael’s work spans graphic design, music production, and creative direction, all rooted in a deep knowledge of archival and vintage fashion. His namesake brand, Amatus, was inspired by his mother, who signed him up for his first sewing class at 15, marking the start of his design journey. As a child, Michael was influenced by his brother and father, whose artistic pursuits shaped his taste. Later drawing from the works of Maison Margiela and Rick Owens, Michael has emerged as a distinctive voice in Toronto’s design scene, aiming to promote unconventional thinking and create a space in fashion for the outlier.
Before creating collections of his own, Michael embraced a new identity by exploring the legacies of past designers. His curation page, Galerie Gray, showcases his extensive knowledge of archival and vintage fashion through runways, campaigns, and spatial design. The page reflects Michael’s refined taste, consistently aligning with his aesthetic, visual, and ideological values.
Galerie Gray also served as a foundational part of Michael’s journey, bridging inspiration and his own creations. Through this curated content, Michael communicates his unique blend of interests, ideologies, and ethos, offering insights into his perspective as a designer and human. His engagement with art and fashion in such a layered way has allowed him to refine his craft, each design reflecting the deep knowledge he’s gained from his creative pursuits. Michael will present Pseudo Skin at Toronto Fashion Week on November 15th at 10 PM.
FORM: What makes an image or piece of work inspiring?
MICHAEL: I think that really good design is immediate. The essence of the concept should translate so seamlessly that you can almost immediately understand why it is a certain way or at least feel the train of thought on how the artist came to that conclusion. It feels profound and simultaneously so obvious.
Through the curation of others, Micheal still always had the goal of having his own brand, having gone through three variations of concept, he has landed on Amatus, with his first collection Pseudo Skin out now. Pseudoskin uses stiffness with a blend of fluidity to create the look of a second skin. With the main color being black, Micheal hopes to create focus on texture, silhouette and proportion, while pushing himself as a designer to make more out of less.
FORM: How does Black as the main color of the collection represents pseudo skin:
MICHAEL: Using black is just a natural thing to me. I think that it kind of forces me to place more emphasis on texture, silhouette and proportions, so I have less color and things to depend on as a crutch. This helps create the look of a second skin. Once you see just a black silhouette, it melds with the actual person.
“pseudo skin :: personified as the artificial exterior in contribution to our divided-ness . the mock persona that masks the true ethos , in fear of vulnerability and acceptance . eclipsing the pseudo skin is the process of self actualization and oneness.”
FORM: With the meaning of Pseudo Skin being so complex, what does it mean to you?
MICHAEL: Pseudo skin represents, like a fake front or a persona that you put onto the world to hide your true being, your true essence because of fear of many things, rejection, acceptance, things like that.
Pseudo Skin takes on the form of its surroundings, demonstrating Michael’s deep understanding of pattern drafting and garment design. His creative process begins with conceptualization, moving through sketching and exploring silhouette and construction. Each piece undergoes numerous trials and refinements, allowing Michael to perfect his fits and translate his ideologies, inspirations, and education into tangible form.
The collection integrates sleek motifs that establish Pseudo Skin’s brand identity. Michael intentionally avoids overt branding, opting for subtle, recurring design elements that lend a distinctive signature to each piece. With features like metal grommet perforations, wire fastenings, and industrial accents, Amatus is instantly recognizable, even without a label.
Michael’s inspirations extend beyond traditional sources, drawing from anime, video games, and mangas like Blame!, which influenced his aesthetic. Music plays an integral, transcendent role in his design process, with artists like Aphex Twin, Autechre, Telefon Tel Aviv, and Edit accompanying him at the sewing table. His approach is almost spiritual, blending diverse mediums to spark creativity.
FORM: Can you pinpoint what your initial inspiration was for the collection?
MICHAEL: I draw inspiration from a lot of industrial aesthetics like brutalism within architecture and on the nerdier side of things, I always thought that character designs in anime and video games and the films that I grew up loving were also very intricate and interesting.
Through inspiration and careful curation, Michael has grown as a designer. His extensive knowledge, combined with personal touches, gives his collection and brand a distinct edge. Each piece reflects a commitment to individuality, unity, and creating space for those who may not otherwise feel they belong. Galerie Gray, his curation page, symbolizes being the outlier—embracing the space between black and white—to champion unique, unconventional thinking in an accessible way. His brand Amatus is his most personal endeavor, rooted in gratitude for existence and the journey that has led him to this moment, which serves as the foundation of his brand.
MICHAEL: My mother's name is Amatus, which she always thought was a bit weird and different, so she goes by Michelle. Despite her feelings about her name, I think Amatus is beautiful, especially since it means 'beloved' in Latin. I believe she should embrace it, as it aligns perfectly with the ethos of our brand: celebrating the beauty of being different and unconventional. So, in a way, the brand embodies that spirit as 'Beloved Gray.
Michael's first collection, Pseudo Skin, was presented in collaboration with RCHIVE, a creative club and space for artists to learn, connect, and showcase their work. His gratitude for this partnership is evident, as RCHIVE has played a pivotal role in his design journey. The space provided an ideal environment for Michael’s work to resonate and breathe, offering him full creative freedom in both presentation and curation. Michael's dedication to craftsmanship, inclusiveness, and nonconformist design principles has shaped his path, allowing him to create intricate and expressive collections. Rooted in family, unity, and a personal approach to design, Pseudo Skin and his brand, Amatus Gray, were born.
Words: Jack Warren (@jack_gtw)
Editor: Soukita Morgan (@bysoukita)
Photos: @jack_gtw, @wtvrubelieve, @collyaz, @viviansizeng, @visualdarrell
